Internet filters to screen pornography sites may be coming to the children's room in the Los Altos Library and in other county libraries.
The Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority Board will consider the issue of Internet filters at its 1 p.m. meeting Thursday at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino.
A subcommittee of the joint powers, chaired by Los Altos Hills city councilwoman Elayne Dauber, will be recommending filters in the children's rooms of the county libraries, Dauber said.
The Los Altos Library is one of eight in the county library system that is governed by the joint powers authority.
"Librarians understand the public's fear of accidental viewing of pornography by young kids," said Carol Tefft, head librarian in Los Altos. "Filters have some problems, but they have improved a lot." Tefft has been working with the joint powers board testing software filters.
The best way to protect the children is "to create a safe zone," Tefft said.
In response to concerns by parents, particularly from the Gilroy area, the joint powers board has been considering possible Internet filters and formed the sub-committee in January.
Tefft said that in Los Altos there have been two to three reports of pornography in the four years the library has had the Internet.
With filters, "We may be withdrawing information that's constitutionally protected," Tefft said. "On the other hand, who wants children to see pornography in the children's room? Nobody wants that."
The 1 p.m. meeting Thursday is open to the public. The Quinlan Community Center is located at 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino.